Managing Training Load Flashcards

Which metric best captures the cumulative physiological stress imposed by a training session when both intensity and duration are considered?

Answer: Training impulse (TRIMP)

TRIMP combines exercise duration and heart rate intensity (weighted for zone) to quantify internal training load as a single value.

An athlete's acute-to-chronic workload ratio (ACWR) rises to 1.8 over two weeks. This value indicates:

Answer: A spike zone associated with elevated injury risk

An ACWR above 1.5 is generally considered a 'danger zone' where injury risk increases substantially.

The 'fitness-fatigue' (two-factor) model proposes that performance at any given time is:

Answer: Fitness minus current fatigue

In Banister's two-factor model, preparedness (performance) equals the fitness component minus the fatigue component.

When designing a microcycle, placing the highest-load session immediately after a rest day is primarily intended to:

Answer: Exploit recovery-induced supercompensation readiness

Scheduling high-load work after rest capitalizes on restored glycogen stores and reduced accumulated fatigue for a quality stimulus.

Which of the following is considered an EXTERNAL load metric in team sport monitoring?

Answer: Total distance covered via GPS

External load refers to objective work performed by the athlete, such as GPS-derived distance, independent of physiological response.

The concept of 'non-functional overreaching' differs from 'functional overreaching' primarily in that it:

Answer: Requires weeks to months for performance recovery

Non-functional overreaching involves prolonged performance decrements lasting weeks to months and may signal progression toward overtraining syndrome.

A sport scientist wants to monitor neuromuscular fatigue daily without impeding training. The most practical field test would be:

Answer: Countermovement jump (CMJ) height

CMJ height is sensitive to neuromuscular fatigue, quick to administer, non-fatiguing, and requires minimal equipment.